METHOD AND APPARATUS OF PROCESSING THREE-DIMENSIONAL VIDEO CONTENT
The present invention introduces methods and apparatus of encrypting/decrypting three-dimensional (3D) video content. The inventive methods and apparatus can achieve a flexible payment/authorization mechanism for the 3D video content. A user can choose to view only 2D images corresponding to the video content, or pay an authorization fee that allows the user to view the entire 3D video content.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional video content, and more particularly, to a method and a related apparatus of encrypting/decrypting the three-dimensional video content.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For copyright protection, multimedia data content usually needs some encryption mechanism to prevent unauthorized access. For example, video content sometimes needs to be encrypted for ensuring a secure transmission (via Internet or broadcasting), thus preventing unauthorized third parties from eavesdropping on the video content. This allows the owner of the video content to either forbid viewing, or collect revenue at his or her discretion.
Three-dimensional (3D) video content is increasingly used in the movie industry or for household application; however, there is still not a proper solution to the encryption/decryption mechanism of the 3D video content.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONWith this in mind, it is one objective to provide methods and related apparatus of performing encrypting/decrypting processing on 3D video content. In particular, the inventive method and apparatus provides a conception of separately encrypting/decrypting the 3D video content which is coded in the form of 2D images and a 3D auxiliary information. This allows users to selectively pay for which video content he/she wants to view (i.e., 2D or 3D video content). For example, if the user only desires to view the 2D video content, he/she will only be charged for the 2D video content. If the user desires to view the 3D video content, he/she will be charged for the 3D auxiliary information and the 2D video content in order to get the full authorization for the 3D video content. Thus, this invention can provide a flexible payment/authorization mechanism for the 3D video content.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of processing a three-dimensional video content is provided. The method comprises: receiving the three-dimensional video content including a plurality of two-dimensional images and a three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the two-dimensional images; and utilizing an encryption circuit to generate an encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information by encrypting the received three-dimensional auxiliary video information.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of processing a three-dimensional video content is provided. The method comprises: receiving the three-dimensional video content including a plurality of two-dimensional images and an encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the two-dimensional images; and utilizing a decryption circuit to generate a first decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information by decrypting the received encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information.
According to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus of processing a three-dimensional video content is provided. The apparatus comprises: a receiving circuit and an encryption circuit. The receiving circuit is configured for receiving the three-dimensional video content including a plurality of two-dimensional images and a three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the two-dimensional images. The encryption circuit is coupled to the receiving circuit and configured for generating an encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information by encrypting the received three-dimensional auxiliary video information.
According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus of processing a three-dimensional video content is provided. The apparatus comprises: a receiving circuit and a decryption circuit. The receiving circuit is configured for receiving the three-dimensional video content including a plurality of two-dimensional images and an encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the two-dimensional images. The decryption circuit is coupled to the receiving circuit and configured for generating a first decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information by decrypting the received encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints that will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
The inventive method and apparatus is involved in the processing of 3D video content, especially those coded in stereoscopic video coding formats, such as 2D plus Depth, 2D plus Delta, 2D plus motion vector. Hence, in the following, the term “3D auxiliary information” may refer to depth, delta or motion vector information depending on which stereoscopic video format the invention is applied to.
Encryption
In the following part, a detailed description regarding the encryption part of the inventive method and apparatus will be explained with reference to several exemplary embodiments. However, reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an implementation. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Thus, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that claimed subject matter may not be limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as sample forms of implementing the claimed subject matter.
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Decryption
In the following part, a detailed description regarding the decryption part of the inventive method and apparatus will be explained with reference to several exemplary embodiments. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an implementation. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Thus, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that claimed subject matter may not be limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as sample forms of implementing the claimed subject matter.
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In conclusion, by respectively and separately encrypting/decrypting 2D images and the 3D auxiliary information according to different manners (e.g. different keys or encrypted at different times), the present invention not only can fully protect the 3D video content but also can provide a flexible payment/authorization mechanism for the user to access or view 3D video content.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention.
Claims
1. A method of processing a three-dimensional video content, comprising:
- receiving the three-dimensional video content including a plurality of two-dimensional images and a three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the two-dimensional images; and
- utilizing an encryption circuit to generate an encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information by encrypting the received three-dimensional auxiliary video information.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- outputting the received two-dimensional images which are unencrypted and the encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the received two-dimensional images.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes depth information.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes delta information.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes motion vector information.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- generating an encrypted three-dimensional video content by encrypting the received two-dimensional images and the encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- generating encrypted two-dimensional images by encrypting the received two-dimensional images, wherein the received two-dimensional images and the received three-dimensional auxiliary video information are encrypted using different keys.
8. A method of processing a three-dimensional video content, comprising:
- receiving the three-dimensional video content including a plurality of two-dimensional images and an encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the two-dimensional images; and
- utilizing a decryption circuit to generate a first decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information by decrypting the received encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
- outputting the received two-dimensional images which are unencrypted and the first decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the received unencrypted two-dimensional images.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the received two-dimensional images are encrypted two-dimensional images, and the method further comprises:
- generating decrypted two-dimensional images by decrypting the encrypted two-dimensional images, wherein the received encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information and the received encrypted two-dimensional images are decrypted using different keys; and
- outputting the decrypted two-dimensional images and the first decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the decrypted two-dimensional images.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the received two-dimensional images are encrypted two-dimensional images, and the method further comprises:
- generating decrypted two-dimensional images by decrypting the encrypted two-dimensional images;
- generating a second decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information by decrypting the first decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information; and
- outputting the decrypted two-dimensional images and the second decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the decrypted two-dimensional images.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes encrypted depth information.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes encrypted delta information.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes encrypted motion vector information.
15. An apparatus for processing a three-dimensional video content, comprising:
- a receiving circuit, for receiving the three-dimensional video content including a plurality of two-dimensional images and a three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the two-dimensional images; and
- an encryption circuit, coupled to the receiving circuit, for generating an encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information by encrypting the received three-dimensional auxiliary video information.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:
- an outputting circuit, coupled to the encryption circuit, for outputting the received two-dimensional images which are unencrypted and the encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the received two-dimensional images into a storage device.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes depth information.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes delta information.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes motion vector information.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the encryption circuit further generates an encrypted three-dimensional video content by encrypting the received two-dimensional images and the encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information.
21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the encryption circuit further generates encrypted two-dimensional images by encrypting the received two-dimensional images, wherein the received two-dimensional images and the received three-dimensional auxiliary video information are encrypted using different keys.
22. An apparatus for processing a three-dimensional video content, comprising:
- a receiving circuit, for receiving the three-dimensional video content including a plurality of two-dimensional images and an encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the two-dimensional images; and
- a decryption circuit, coupled to the receiving circuit, for generating a first decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information by decrypting the received encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:
- an outputting circuit, coupled to the decryption circuit, for outputting the received two-dimensional images which are unencrypted and the first decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the received unencrypted two-dimensional images.
24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the received two-dimensional images are encrypted two-dimensional images, and the decryption circuit further generates decrypted two-dimensional images by decrypting the encrypted two-dimensional images, wherein the received encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information and the encrypted two-dimensional images are decrypted using different keys; and
- the apparatus further comprises: an outputting circuit, coupled to the decryption circuit, for outputting the decrypted two-dimensional images and the first decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the decrypted two-dimensional images.
25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the received two-dimensional images are encrypted two-dimensional images, and the decryption circuit further generates decrypted two-dimensional images by decrypting the encrypted two-dimensional images and generates a second decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information by decrypting the first decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information; and
- the apparatus further comprises: an outputting circuit, coupled to the decryption circuit, for outputting the decrypted two-dimensional images and the second decrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information corresponding to the decrypted two-dimensional images.
26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes encrypted depth information.
27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes encrypted delta information.
28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the encrypted three-dimensional auxiliary video information includes encrypted motion vector information.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 3, 2010
Publication Date: Apr 5, 2012
Patent Grant number: 8693687
Inventor: Shang-Chieh Wen (Tainan County)
Application Number: 12/896,903
International Classification: H04N 7/167 (20060101);